Capital Report~August 22, 2008
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Premier Gordon Campbell announces details of the International Media Centre for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in British Columbia, which will host thousands of journalists during the Games.

Premier Unveils Media Centre for 2010 Games

Premier Gordon Campbell revealed plans for the 2010 International Media Centre (IMC). It is anticipated that over 3,000 reporters and writers will visit British Columbia in conjunction with the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.

  • The 2,600-square-metre facility will offer the latest in communications technology in a comfortable and secure workspace featuring locally sourced materials.
  • It will be the first-ever “green-certified” international media centre in the Games’ history.
  • The media centre will be adjacent to the Commerce Centre and showcase space in Robson Square.

Click for more information.

British Columbia Scores A+ for Energy Efficiency

The Canadian Energy Efficiency Alliance’s (CEEA) annual report card, ranking Canada’s provinces and jurisdictions on promoting energy efficiency, gave British Columbia the top score of A+.

  • CEEA releases a report annually providing scores for each of 14 Canadian jurisdictions based on 12 parameters.
  • Since 2002, the Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources has increased its efforts to make B.C. a world leader in the sustainable and efficient use of energy.

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$145 Million in Gaming Grants Distributed in 2007/08

5,800 community organizations shared more than $145 million worth of gaming grants in the 2007/08 fiscal year, announced Rich Coleman, Minister of Housing and Social Development.

  • Gaming grants are made available to eligible non-profit community organizations and Parent Advisory Councils (PAC) and District Parent Advisory Councils (DPAC).
  • A local community organization may receive a maximum of $100,000 each year while a province-wide organization can receive upwards of $250,000.
  • Funds must be used to support the direct delivery of a program that benefits the broader community.

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There are currently no interviews scheduled.

Quotes This Week

"We are pleased to see an increase in the number of major construction projects in B.C., as this is a positive sign that there will be construction activity beyond the Olympics."
Philip Hochstein, President of the Independent Contractors and Business Association. ICBA News Release, August 14, 2008.

“We have tremendous funding from the B.C. Government. It's close to three million for coaching alone, and that, that funding is helping us develop the next generation of athletes as they are coming up through the system in British Columbia.”
Joanna Fox, Canadian Sports Centre Pacific. A-Channel News, August 18, 2008.


Did You Know?

  • BC Parks is launching a program that will make it easy for every British Columbian to leave a legacy in their favourite provincial park during B.C.’s 150th anniversary. The ‘Make Your Mark – For a BC Park’ program is another way for British Columbians to personally take part and share in the benefits of the best park system in the world. To learn more about this exciting new program, please visit www.bcparks.ca. For information about BC150, please visit www.bc150years.ca.
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  • The recent release of the quarterly Major Projects Inventory shows the number of major construction projects in B.C. has increased for the twentieth straight quarter. According to the Major Projects Inventory, June 2008 edition 863 major capital projects, worth an estimated record $169.7 billion, were planned or underway in B.C. between April and June 2008, which is an increase of 30 per cent in estimated value from this time last year.
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